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> “I'll Admit: I’ve Fallen Asleep in There!” The Reality of Pumping at Work

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"I'll Admit: I've Fallen Asleep in There!" The Reality of Pumping at Work

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by Word of Mom Blogger on February 03, 2014

Word of Mom Blogger

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The best parenting bloggers share their thoughts on the wild and crazy journey of raising kids.

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WhatToExpect.com supports Word of Mom as a place to share stories and highlight the many perspectives and experiences of pregnancy and parenting. However, the opinions expressed in this section are those of individual writers and do not reflect the views of Heidi Murkoff of the What to Expect brand.

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Last week the editors of WhatToExpect.com asked our moms to share stories and images of where they pump, and the responses we received ran the gamut from the company closet to dedicated private pumping suites. We're happy to report that many companies offer spacious, locked pumping rooms with mini refrigerators. What's more, the savviest employers even recognize that pumping rooms can be a productive thinking spot where busy moms can get work done: One mom told us her company not only recently installed lockers and privacy curtains but also boosted the wifi so ambitious moms can work on their laptops as they pump.

Kelly Borghello, who works full-time in the accounting department of a design consultancy employing 40 people, says her designated pump room overlooking the San Francisco Bay is "pretty comfy, with a couch and locked door":

Middle school teacher Meghan Moran Perego shared this image of this small but private coaches' office in the locker room where she pumps:Photo Credit: Facebook

Beverlie Moreno Olcott says she pumps in an empty office or conference room at her work:Photo Credit: Facebook

And Lauren Young says she has a dedicated pumping room at her employer, Thompson Reuters news service:Photo Credit: Twitter

The Healthcare Industry: The Good, The Bad & The UglyYou'd expect that companies in the healthcare industry would be the most likely to provide quality pumping rooms — and our moms said for the most part that their employers take care of moms. Kayla Koivu Busto, a labor and delivery room nurse, is grateful to work in a hospital that promotes breastfeeding, which she says has a very nice pumping area with a shelf and a rocking chair. And Rachel Pointer, who works at a dental office, says she has complete privacy and a whole room for herself:Photo Credit: Facebook

But unfortunately not every healthcare employer is as encouraging of breastfeeding as much as you might think. Heather Barclay, who works for an OBGYN and gave birth 11 years ago, says "occasionally I'd get obnoxious mooing comments outside of the door and I was told it was an inconvenience. Sad to see very little has changed in all these years." Keri Felicion shared this photo of an empty, unheated room in the hospital where she works:Photo Credit: Facebook

No Room or TimeSome moms, on the other hand, unfortunately aren't given a real room to pump at all. "A closet with a chair and outlet...that's it!" says Melissa Rosario of the pumping room at the large financial institution where she works. "I think they could've done better than this!! I'll admit: I have fallen asleep in there!" We can only assume it's because it's so dark in that "pump room"?

Mary Beth Evans said she pumped in a storage room until she saw a mouse, then a workroom with no lock. Her solution:Photo Credit: Facebook

Even for moms whose companies do provide a private place to pump, the issue is often finding the time in a busy workday. Susann Charles, a nurse in an intense care unit, says she's expecting this month and concerned about setting up a pumping schedule. "It can get so busy that you can hardly find time to sit down...and the pumping room is four floors below my unit," she says.

"I can hardly find time to pump," agrees Honey Mceveilie, who works as a temp at an elementary school. "My students are hyper-active teenagers with social and literacy challenges. My breastmilk supply has decreased since."

Privacy's at a PremiumKeeping a pumping room private can be a major issue, too. "The one day I forgot to put a "knock please" sign on the door, housekeeping walked in just as I had put everything away. Thank goodness it wasn't a few minutes earlier!" says Erica White, a nurse in a Canadian hospital.

"People don't like that I pump 15 minutes every shift, even though that's the only break I take," says Paula Calderon-Hubbe, who feels her coworkers try to get her to stop pumping. "I feel a lot of pressure since I'm not planning on stopping any time soon because my baby is 10 months old."

Jennifer Huey Brooks, who pumps in an empty office at her engineering company, says she feels like an employee who is "'always on a smoke break.' No one says anything to me, but it is kind of awkward sometimes...since the engineering field is mostly male."

Overall, the most common pumping spot we heard? A car. Many moms say the only place they can get the privacy they need is behind the wheel — and this is especially the case for women who freelance or work on-the-go. "I travel a ton...and I pump everywhere!" says Kristin Green, a senior marketing development manager for Gatorade. "Today I'm flying and had to check my cooler full of milk!"

What's your company's pump-room like? Send us your photos and stories using the hashtag #WhereIPump @WhatToExpect on Twitter or Facebook.

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